Mortgages

The interest rate on an American home mortgage later this year could depend a lot on how many euros, yen, pesos and rupees a dollar will fetch. The dollar's steep ascent against many of the world's currencies since last summer could help delay the first Federal Reserve rate hike since 2006. In turn, that could affect mortgage and other long-term rates. Historically, the Fed officially hasn't paid much attention to the dollar's swings, honoring a separation of powers that goes back to the central bank's creation: The Fed is responsible for monetary policy, while decisions about the dollar are the U.S. Treasury Department's domain. But under Chairwoman Janet...

Related "Mortgages" Articles

The interest rate on an American home mortgage later this year could depend a lot on how many euros, yen, pesos and rupees a dollar will fetch.
The dollar's steep ascent against many of the world's currencies since last summer could help delay the...

Home mortgage interest rates were little changed this week, with Freddie Mac's survey showing lenders offering conventional 30-year loans at an average of 3.7%, up from 3.69% last week.
As the spring home buying season begins, rates are about where...

Mortgage rates fell this week, with lenders offering a 30-year fixed loan at an average of 3.69%, down from 3.78% a week ago, Freddie Mac said.
The mortgage giant’s weekly survey, released Thursday, showed the average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage...

Since former L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa bought a house in Hollywood Hills for about $2.5 million, readers have been asking: How can he afford this home?
We do not know. But since you asked, information that has appeared in the public record is...

Long-term interest rates declined this week, with Freddie Mac saying lenders were offering conventional 30-year mortgages at an average of 3.78%, down from 3.86% a week ago.
The average for 15-year fixed home loans slipped to 3.06% from 3.1%, the...

Mortgage rates jumped this week following a strong jobs report, with Freddie Mac reporting that lenders were offering conventional 30-year home loans at an average of 3.86%, up from 3.75% a week ago,
The increase brings rates back to about where...

Mortgage interest rates fell for the first time in four weeks, with Freddie Mac's survey showing lenders offering conventional 30-year fixed-rate loans at an average of 3.75%, down from 3.8% a week ago.
The 15-year fixed-rate home loan, a way to build...

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The number of Americans signing contracts to buy homes rose at a healthy pace in January, a sign that home sales are poised to accelerate after a slow start to the year.
The National Association of Realtors said Friday that its seasonally adjusted...

The chief executives of New York commercial lender CIT Group and Pasadena's OneWest Bank promised Thursday that the planned OneWest buyout would be good for poor neighborhoods, while critics said the $3.4-billion combination would create a "too big...

Mortgage rates climbed higher this week as lenders on average offered a 30-year fixed loan at 3.80%, up from 3.76% last week, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey.
Rates have now increased for three straight weeks after hitting a bottom for the...

CIT Group's $3.4-billion takeover of Pasadena's OneWest Bank will come under scrutiny today at a public-benefit hearing called by U.S. bank regulators.
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A closely watched index that tracks mortgage credit availability — lender requirements on credit scores, down payments and other key loan terms — has some good news for potential home buyers: Things are finally loosening up.
After years of...

California has delivered less than half of $2 billion in federal aid to help victims of the housing crash.
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Mortgage rates edged higher for a second week, with Freddie Mac's weekly survey showing that lenders were offering conventional 30-year loans at an average 3.76%, up from 3.69% last week.
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A federal relief effort that set aside nearly $2 billion in housing aid for troubled Californians is being expanded to help older homeowners avert foreclosures on their reverse mortgages.
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Americans increased their borrowing in the final three months last year and, in a worrisome note, are struggling more with auto and student loans, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Outstanding household debt rose a modest...

Tax reform is revving up again on Capitol Hill, with the heads of key committees pledging to work toward a simpler and fairer tax code, possibly one with lower tax rates. Sounds intriguing.
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A federal judge Thursday acquitted three Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies of conspiracy and fraud charges, finding prosecutors had not presented enough evidence to show the men had intended to defraud banks, according to attorneys.
The case involved...

Foreclosures in Southern California hit their highest level in two years in January, according to new data out Thursday. But market-watchers say it's more a matter of lenders clearing their books than a new wave of bad loans.
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